Dirt Road Addiction Calls It Quits After 12 Years of Performing

After 12 years of performing live across Missouri entertaining thousands of fans, Dirt Road Addiction called it quits with a rousing four-hour concert at the Hayden Liberty Center in downtown Sedalia.

The free concert (with no intermission) was very well attended on Wednesday, otherwise known as “Bar Night,” traditionally the night before Thanksgiving.

Band co-founder Kevin Ditzfeld spoke with KSIS backstage about a half hour before the concert began, and explained the reason for the band’s conclusion.

Kevin Ditzfeld and the late Mike Adams were the official co-founders of Dirt Road, but Clay Clear was instrumental in getting the band started as well, Ditzfeld said.

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So why was this the final concert for southern rock and country band Dirt Road Addiction?

“You know what? We’re all getting older. We’re all getting tired,” Ditzfeld admitted.

When asked how many Dirt Road shows he thinks he’s played over the past dozen years, Ditzfeld replied “Oh good God, Randy, I have no idea!”

He did say that over the past year, Dirt Road has played between 30 and 40 shows. In 2023, Dirt Road played over 50 live shows. The acoustic guitarist and singer estimated he and his band have played over 150 shows over the past three years.

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Dirt Road had no trouble booking gigs.

“It’s kind of a nice problem to have,” Ditzfeld noted. “In fact, it got to the point where we didn’t really have to reach out anymore. We just waited for emails and phone calls.”

When this reporter made a feeble attempt to convince Ditzfeld not to quit, he laughed and said, “I don’t think that’s happening.”’

“I think everybody in the band is excited for what’s to come. I think a few of them will still continue to play. It’s been a hell of a ride, man,” Ditzfeld stated, adding that he hopes his fellow musicians will find work in other bands, “especially Riley and Rider, with them being so young. I know Michael (Bowman) still has a lot of drums to play. I do hope they get to reach out and play somewhere else.”

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What’s it going to be like to have all that extra free time on his hands?

“It’s going to be glorious,” Ditzfeld quickly responded.

“My wife always gives me a hard time about not being able to sit still,” he said. “I’ll find something to do … but the late nights – those are over.”

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Dirt Road Addiction has put out an EP, three singles and full-length album for their fans over the past 12 years, Ditzfeld said.

“We’ve got plenty of stuff out there, including Spotify, Amazon, Alpha Music, iTunes, everywhere you get your digital streams,” Ditzfeld noted, for those who need their Dirt Road fix.

“This community, in Sedalia, has been incredible for us. The venues, from the Bud Tent to Dickie Doo back in its heyday, Dukes & Boots, obviously the Liberty Center, (and others) it’s been fantastic. It’s been a godsend for us. It’s something that, me personally, never thought I’d be a part of, or be able to do. And I know the rest of the guys feel the same way. We’re very, very fortunate to have a community that supported live music like it had, and is still trying to do,” Ditzfeld told KSIS, adding that he hopes the Liberty Center will continue to promote live music.

“I remember the first show we played at Dickie Doo BBQ, and the legendary Brett Harms came up to us and he said ‘there’s a lot of musicians in the house tonight and that’s a huge compliment’ and of course that made all of us very, very nervous,” Ditzfeld recalled. “But that show went over as expected. And were a lot of speed bumps, but we got through it, and the rest, they say is history.

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The five current members (Kevin Ditzfeld, Michael Bowman, Riley Jelinek, Chris Clark, Rider Smith) were eventually joined on stage by former members Clay Clear, Tommy Hulse and JR Kenyon.

Clay Clear left the band in 2020 to pursue music in Nashville. He later moved back to Missouri and formed the Clay Clear Band

Singer Patrick Wilson and drummer Sam Schleicher were unable to attend.

Casey Samson is the band’s audio & lighting engineer, and when requested, he ran down the steps at break-neck speed to play a number with the band on bass.

John Rooks and his wife Teresa Rooks were also at the concert. John previously ran lights and sound for the band, and Teresa was the merchandise girl.